For maybe the first time all season, that’s what Indiana became this afternoon in Columbus.

This was a game that even with limited production from Jared Sullinger (0 field goals, five points all on free throws, sat out all but three minutes in the first half because of foul trouble) and Jon Dielber (just 2-of-7 from three) Ohio State still dominated from start to finish. The Hoosiers just never really got into this game.

It often felt like Indiana the last two seasons under coach Tom Crean: Not enough talent, not enough experience, but bringing plenty on hustle.

This is the reality of the Indiana program right now: The gap between the Hoosiers, a team set to finish at the bottom of the Big Ten for a third straight year, and the Buckeyes, a team set for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, is a big one.

In the first half, Indiana missed all eight of its 3-point attempts, and had more turnovers (10) and fouls (13) than field goals (9). And though Sullinger was a non-factor in that half, freshman and Indiana native Deshaun Thomas filled in admirably, scoring 16 points in 10 minutes (6-of-7 from the field, 2-of-3 from three). He finished the game with 22 points.

Crean busted out a full-court press for a long stretch in the second half, but the Hoosiers trailed by 20 or more for almost that entire frame. OSU alley-oops were frequent.

Chicago Bulls TV color man Stacey King often says “too big, too strong, too fast” after point guard Derrick Rose rips off an impressive move to the bucket for two.

On a day like today, that was Ohio State: just too big, strong and fast for the Hoosiers.

Other notes:

+ Verdell Jones had a quiet 14 points, as he hit two threes in the second half to try and narrow the gap. Christian Watford (12 points) was the only other Hoosier in double figures. Jordan Hulls finished 1-of-9 (1-of-5 from three) for only three points.

+ Indiana shot just 38.5 percent from the floor (20-of-52) and 27.3 percent from three (6-of-22).

+ The Hoosiers again put the opponent on the line an unhealthy amount of times, as Ohio State went 27-of-36 (75 percent) from the line. Indiana did a decent job of getting there itself, though, making 15 of its 20 attempts (75 percent).

I think someone told CTC that the fans really enjoy countdowns. He’ll do anything to please the fan base.

INUnivHoosier

I think he has done a good job of displaying how petty he is over the years, yes. If he hadn’t helped any other coaches and then helped Matta before the IU game, I would see it as vindictive, but that wasn’t the case. I think he was just helping out his alma mater and trying to get himself back into the fold.

millzy32

He is playing so I can go to work and have the guy in the office next to me say wow I’ve never seen an Indiana team look so bad. They can’t pass, dribble, set picks or anything. That team has no fundamentals whatsoever. That was my day yesterday and I had no legitimate rebuttal other than to just shake my head and wish it was 3 years from now.

MillaRed

Without CWat we are terrible this season. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

MillaRed

I understand why people keep Moore close to their heart I really do. It’s a great story and he is a great kid.

Unfortunately, IMO, he characterizes this struggling program in its entirety. As far as other teams and fans are concerned, the fact we have this kid on the floor is very telling. When I look back on these painful three years, he will be the player I remember in terms of how bad the situation really was. Moore is always the worst player on the floor regardless of the opponent.

I know many of you disagree. And I am not anti-Daniel Moore. But as Ace says, mop up duty is his ceiling in any BCS conference game.

MillaRed

It’s not difficult to get into RMK’s mind when it comes to IU hoops. We all know where he is with all of that. Would he do this to spite the program? Of course he would. Think about who we are talking about here.

Does any of this bother me? Not at all. IU and CTC have reached out to him with open arms. In his delicate mind the “perpetrators” have all gone. Still yet he shuns the program.

The worst thing any of us could do is give one ounce of a damn about what RMK is or is not doing to get under our skin. I have MOVED ON. He is twice my age and he is the one acting like a spoiled toddler. Coach the entire Big Ten if you like RMK. Indiana basketball will be just fine in a few years and you will just be two years older and bitter as ever. Not a great way to enjoy the golden years sir.

Gdfost

Maybe you are seeing something I am not……….we are terrible with him.

Anonymous

Oh, I wasn’t stating Crean should be angry with Knight; I was saying that I hope he takes Matta’s little digs and sees a need to crush him. The ultimate insult to Knight would be to do it while running a zone defense.

MillaRed

We are terrible as a team. For some reason, we don’t get that.

If you take Jordy and CWat and put them on Ohio State they are both 3rd Team All Big Ten.

They have no inside presence. A scheme that does not fit them at all. And they play with Daniel Moore OK. They play with Daniel MOORE.

Replace Moore with Morris at UM or Lucas at MSU etc and they are completely different players.

We have less than a handful of players coming back to have any excitement about whatsoever and Watford is one of them. Give the kid a chance to improve.

BTW, no one on this team plays defense. Not sure why Watford gets most of the blame.

MillaRed

Panski anything is possible. We would have to play a perfect game. But hear me out, Sullinger had 0 FGs and played 13 minutes and we got spanked like little Johnny after pulling on a girls hair. If there was a chance to beat these guys that was the game.

MillaRed

Sure Marcus that wasn’t directed at you. I was just piggybacking on you buddy.

Anonymous

when did I say pts/ game make for a great player?I was providing stats for the people who replied below about how much better the ohio st players were then ours and the stats would suggest that that is not the case.
I said player from the projects because they are hungrier to make it in basketball, because they have little else that help them rise above their surroundings.Private school kids have other options beside basketball and usually can afford college even if they don’t make it playing ball.I guess we’re going to have to agree to disagree on what a great player is, because to me a great player is not a drop of rain in a bucket, they don’t come around all the time.

Anonymous

when did I say pts/ game make for a great player?I was providing stats for the people who replied below about how much better the ohio st players were then ours and the stats would suggest that that is not the case.
I said player from the projects because they are hungrier to make it in basketball, because they have little else that help them rise above their surroundings.Private school kids have other options beside basketball and usually can afford college even if they don’t make it playing ball.I guess we’re going to have to agree to disagree on what a great player is, because to me a great player is not a drop of rain in a bucket, they don’t come around all the time.

MillaRed

The argument over the last few weeks is we are better because we aren’t getting beat as badly. However, we are still losing. I think to say we are better is reaching personally. Sure, we have improved. We have gone from terribly terrible to pretty darn terrible. Yay!

Zeller will be just fine. He already has helped because others have followed him. If Coach can’t get ti\it done with these guys he’s out anyway. We’re just going to have to wait and see.

MillaRed

True but I will also say Buc is a devoted Hoosier. We’re heading toward a 9 game losing streak peeps. Let the fans vent a little.

Aceman_Mujezinovic_07

If I’m going to continue to watch this team this year I’m going to have to take the little round white pill with the E on it!

Diesel

Well said Ace. He does exactly what the offense is designed to do which is go to the hole until help comes, find the open man. He either gets it stripped, dribbles off his foot, gets blocked by the help, or forces a shot. Never a pass to the open man.

Diesel

Agree here Mike. It’s going to suck for CWat to get his stuff blocked in practice all day long. Should make him think, “Hmm, maybe I should develop a post move for when I take the ball down there?”

Diesel

I agree with what you’ve said here Milla. I’ve also been really open about that fact that I don’t mind Crean using Danny Moore. I think it is more reflective of where the program is at. I really don’t think the 10 mins Moore gets change the outcome of the game, and I think it is just something else for us to bicker about because we aren’t winning any games. Like why Crean claps too much, doesn’t yell at the refs, has too much energy, etc etc.

My answer of why does he play over the other guys: I think CTC would say he needs to have ballhandlers on the floor to run the offense, and more than one ballhandler. I know, I know, sounds pretty pathetic (that’s what you call an offense?) but WS, VO, Roth can’t handle the ball against pressure and for some reason Rivers has gone AWOL. Without Creek, that leaves Danny Moore. Sorry folks, that is the state of IU basketball right now. Again, it’s not like Danny Moore comes in and Yogi is sitting on the bench.

Diesel

You’re wrong! Elston had a least 2 blocks trying to set screens!

MillaRed

I hear you. 2008-2011. “The Daniel Moore Era”

Aceman_Mujezinovic_07

Ha! I’ve never seen a player bail out of a screen faster than DE! I think he set a screen once and never came anywhere close to coming set!

ldiu

Thomas and Elston actually played each other very even in the 2 times they played against each other in high school. Luers had too much depth at guard and that was the reason the the 2 close losses. Luers trailed both games at half, but the overall depth paid off.